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When Andre and Another Future Wrestling Giant Slugged It Out in Fresno

When Andre and Another Future Wrestling Giant Slugged It Out in Fresno

Posted: Jan 9th 2021 By: David Taub - GVWire.com

Two of the greatest wrestling stars of the 1980s battled in a Fresno ring at the start of the decade — one already a bona fide legend; the other a regional star on his way to becoming an icon.

And, a week later, the NWA World Heavyweight champion came to town. It happened Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 in 1980 for local wrestling mogul Pat DiFuria.

Starting in 1979, the longtime boxing promoter held weekly cards at the Wilson Theater in downtown Fresno, dubbed the Wilson Arena for ring events. He imported talent from the Hollywood Wrestling Office, the NWA affiliate that promoted out the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

DiFuria jump started wrestling in Fresno after a dark period for a few years when San Francisco-based promoter Roy Shire stopped sending wrestlers outside the Bay Area. He stopped some time around 1981.

Andre vs. Piper

Andre headlined DiFuria’s first card in 1979 and would make occasional appearances. He already had the unofficial title of wrestling’s top touring attraction.

For his bout versus Piper 41 years ago, the Fresno Bee reported an attendance of 1,250 fans, up from the normal 700 weekly enthusiasts.

Piper was a known commodity on the West Coast, main eventing cards for promotions based in Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

He didn’t achieve fame on the East Coast and around the nation until later in 1980. He left for Jim Crockett Promotions based in the Mid-Atlantic region. A year later, Piper began appearing weekly on wrestling on WTBS (as the Atlanta-based Superstation was known at the time).

Back in Fresno, the Bee described aspects of the bout — Piper played his bagpipes before the match; Andre stole the bagpipes to the relief of the crowd; Piper responded by walloping Andre with his belt.

Andre recovers and gets the best of Piper.

“Andre gets the better of Roddy, finally sitting on his back in the ring, striking a Thinker-like pose. And — humiliation of humiliation— Roddy jumps from the ring and runs down the aisle from sheer fear. He doesn’t return,” wrote Dennis Pollock.

Andre and Piper met again when both were in the WWF. A televised bout from the Philadelphia Spectrum in 1984 had a similar result, Andre winning by countout when Piper ran away.

And a Week Later, the World Champ

As if Piper vs. Andre wasn’t big enough, that evening also featured a battle royal where the winner would receive a world title shot the next week.

Surprisingly, Andre did not emerge the victor — he was also known as King of the Battle Royals and won a similar match the night before at the Olympic.

Chavo Guerrero won the 12-man match and faced Harley Race on Jan. 19, 1980 for the NWA World Heavyweight championship.

It was a rare appearance for an NWA titleholder in Fresno. Although the result of that match is currently lost in history, Race remained champion.

Guerrero was the top star in Los Angeles at the time, and part of a large wrestling family that later included brother and former WWE champion Eddie Guerrero, and son Chavo Guerrero Jr., still an active wrestler.

Because of Andre’s Los Angeles battle royal win, he received a title shot against Race the following week, battling to a draw.

Gorgeous George Winds Up 60 Years Ago

Gorgeous George is perhaps one of the most famous names in the history of wrestling, a pioneering star from the first days of television.

Known for his blonde hair and flashy robes, George brought the showmanship to wrestling.

Sixty years ago, George wrestled his penultimate match in Fresno, facing off with former pro football player Shag Thomas at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 14, 1961.

Thomas won the two-of-three fall affair, taking the decider after George quit following a series of headbutts.

Gorgeous George, real name George Wagner, made his final appearance in Fresno later that summer. He died in 1963 at the age of 48.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-28
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  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
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  • Big Bossman May 2nd
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  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
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  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
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  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
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